I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in here that beersmith reports the extract 5gal conversion recipe seems to be about 10 points lower on OG than the original AG. Thoughts on bumping the specialty grains up a tad and extra light DME up a pound or so?

Beersmith probably correct as we tried the extract version this weekend using the recipe on page 1 and got OG of 1.055. Will probably mean a final ABV of about 5.5% instead of 6.5% (shouldn't impact drinkability) but I concur another pound of dry extract is probably warranted to reach the all grain OG.

Beer smith is so frustrating to try and get all the setting right and all that crap, please just try iBrewmaster, it's mobile so you can just use your iPhone android or iPad and you are set. It just works so much faster and simpler as well as portable. The timers and batch view are a real plus as well as the northern brewer recipes all being loaded

For those who are looking for Citra hops, Labelpeelers.com is taking pre-orders for Citra (also Simcoe, Amarillo, Falconer's Flight and Centennial) in both leaf and pellet form for 1oz and 1lb bags at 10% off. Estimated shipping isn't until the end of October/beginning of November however.

I have a lb of Citra in my freezer right now and just ordered another pound off them along with a lb of Amarillo

I don't think the extract version in beersmith accounts for getting any sugars out of the steeping grains. If you hold them at 150-155 or so until conversion, it is basically a mini-mash. Try changing beersmith from extract to PM.

We ran the steeped grains for 30 minutes as I've repeatedly read (been lectured) that any longer and tannins/off flavored may emerge. Also, I believe the release of sugars in a 155-165 degree steep is minimal, but at an hour there has to be some sugars mashing out. Might account for a loss of OG in my batch this weekend.

I re-ran the numbers as a 30 minute steep then extract in iBrewer and I got 1.062 with this recipe (it did get up higher if set to partial mash) and 1.070 with another pound of dry extract, which is too high. So it makes sense to stick to the original 6lb dry extract recipe and see if others get the correct OG, especially if the grains are steeped for a full hour.

Poster above - simcoe is a decent bittering hops that shouldn't get in the way of citra if you used simcoe for the 60 min and first wart hops (in the extract version the first wart hops are tossed in after the grain steep bag is removed and while you are getting the wort boiling to add the extract - so they are in the wart longer then 60 mins).

You could use anything for that 60 min addition; magnum, warrior, simcoe, etc.

If you can steep those specialty grains, you are basically mashing them. You just need to try to control the temp a little tighter (shoot for 150-155), and use 1.25-1.5qt of water per gallon. Also-Steeping grains too long won't release tannins. Too high of temp for too long will.

and both of the First wort hop and 60 min can be replaced with magnum or warrior with little difference in the overal taste/bitterness?
Also, should I add the DME when first boiling prior to the 60 minute hop addition or should I add it at 15 minutes like I have read.

Thanks!

Last edited by Timmush; 09-26-2012 at 02:14 PM.
Reason: addition to recipe

Took a gravity reading on this last night (I did partial mash) after 10 days went from 1.072 to 1.019 using S04, sample tasted great, it has that wonderful citra aroma, and I haven't even dry hopped yet! I made a this recipe using half citra and half amarillo, and added .5oz warrior at 60.